After leading Apple for 15 years, Tim Cook has officially stepped down, passing the role of CEO to John Ternus. Cook’s tenure is primarily characterized by extraordinary financial success. When he assumed the role in August 2011, Apple’s stock was valued at $13.35 per share; by the time of his departure, it had risen to $316.61. This represents a 2,272% gain, significantly outperforming major stock market indexes. Under his leadership, the company’s market capitalization grew from $347 billion to $4.7 trillion.

While the financial metrics of his era are clear, analysts suggest that Cook’s ultimate legacy will be shaped by Apple’s current approach to artificial intelligence. Unlike some competitors that have invested heavily in building proprietary frontier models, Apple has opted to integrate third-party AI models into its ecosystem. This strategy is expected to save the company significant capital in the short term by avoiding the high operational costs of developing its own infrastructure. However, this approach has also created a dependency on external partners, specifically Google, for key AI capabilities. Whether this reliance on third-party technology proves to be a strategic advantage or a long-term vulnerability remains a point of debate among industry observers.